Trash bag belt

ABSTRACT

A trash bag belt having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion situated between the two ends. The belt further has an outer surface and an inner surface. A section of hook and loop fasteners is positioned at each end of the belt. The two sections are mateable with each other when the two ends are brought together. The length of the trash bag belt is constructed from an elastic material in order to allow the belt to expand and secure tightly around a trash receptacle as necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a trash bag belt. In particular, the invention is an elastic belt that extends around the outside of a trash receptacle, above the trash bag and serves to keep said trash bag in place.

[0002] Trash receptacles are used throughout the year by home owners to store their garbage until picked up by the local sanitation department. These receptacles usually have a cover to prevent the garbage stored within from spilling out. Smaller, more decorative units are available for use inside one's home, while larger, more durable receptacles are used for storage outside. A trash bag is often placed inside the trash receptacle in order to catch the discarded garbage and enable one to remove the contents without creating a mess. Further, this bag also protects the inside of the receptacle and keeps same clean.

[0003] Especially when cleaning up around the outside of one's home, a trash bag is used to collect discarded debris, namely leaves, weeds, and grass cuttings. The length of the bag is typically longer than the length of the receptacle, thereby enabling one to fold the top edge over the outside of the receptacle once the bag is placed inside the same. This overlapping is also used to keep the bag in an upright position, rather than falling within the receptacle. Once suitably positioned within the receptacle, one may proceed to discard the debris into the bag without having to hold the bag open. Once filled, the folded edge is lifted up and used to pull the bag out of the receptacle and tie same closed. Besides providing a neat and efficient means of collecting garbage, this method also eliminates the need of having a second person hold the bag open while it is filled by the first person.

[0004] However, when attempting to fill an empty bag, the bag has a tendency to slip downward inside the receptacle when it comes into contact with the weight of the garbage. Then, when debris is emptied into the receptacle and bag, it tends to fall upon the sides of the bag causing these sides to fall downward and collapse inside the receptacle. The debris then falls outside the bag, making it difficult for one to remove the debris from the receptacle.

[0005] Thus, there exists a need for a device which may be attached around the outer perimeter of the receptacle, above the folded edge of the garbage bag, in order to keep same in place. Such a device would prevent the bag from falling out of place with brought into contact with weighted debris.

[0006] While the available units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved trash bag belt. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved trash bag belt which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0008] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a trash bag belt having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion situated between the two ends. The belt further has an outer surface and an inner surface. A section of hook and loop fasteners is positioned at each end of the belt. The two sections are mateable with each other when the two ends are brought together. The length of the trash bag belt is constructed from an elastic material in order to allow the belt to expand and secure tightly around a trash receptacle as necessary.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0011] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved trash bag belt which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved trash bag belt which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved trash bag belt which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0015] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved trash bag belt which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such trash bag belt economically available to the buying public.

[0016] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0017] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows.

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trash bag belt.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the trash bag belt in place around a receptacle and a trash bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a trash bag belt 10. The belt 10 comprises a first end 12, a second end 14 and a middle portion 16 situated therebetween. The belt 10 further has an outer surface 18 and an inner surface 20. Hook and loop fasteners are positioned at each end 12, 14 of the belt. A first fastener section 22, situated at the first end 12, is stitched to the inner surface 20 of the belt 10, while the second fastener section 24 is stitched to the outer surface 18 of the second end 14. This construction allows the two sections 22, 24 to mate with each other when the two ends 12, 14 are brought together. The middle portion of the trash bag belt 10 is constructed from an elastic material in order to allow same to expand and contract about a trash receptacle as necessary.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, a standard trash receptacle 30 defines an interior volume suitable for containing a quantity of trash and debris, and has an open upper end. The trash receptacle 30 also has an inside surface 30A and an outer surface 30B, as well as an outer perimeter 38. The receptacle 30 has a top rim 36 at the open end of said receptacle. A trash bag 32 is placed inside the receptacle 30 so that it rests upon the inside surface 30A therein. A top edge 34 of the bag 32 extends beyond the top rim 36 of the receptacle 30 and said edge 34 folds over, resting on the outer surface 30B of said receptacle 30.

[0023] In use, the trash bag belt 10 is stretched around the outer perimeter 38 of the trash receptacle 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The inner surface 20 of the belt 10 rests upon the bag 32. The two sections of hook and loop fasteners 22, 24 are brought into contact, thus securing the belt 10 in place tightly around the bag 32. Once in place, the elasticity of the belt 10 serves to hold the top edge 34 tightly against the outer surface 30B of the receptacle 30, and the bag 32 in place within the receptacle 30.

[0024] In conclusion, herein is presented a trash bag belt for securing a trash bag to a trash receptacle. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A trash bag belt for securing a trash bag having a top edge onto a receptacle comprising: a first end; a second end; an extension positioned between the two ends; wherein the two ends and the extension are constructed from an elastic material in order to lend a degree to flexibility of the belt.
 2. The trash bag belt as recited in claim 1, wherein the belt has an outer surface and an inner surface, and one hook and loop fastener is positioned at the first end on the inner surface, and another hook and loop fastener is positioned on the outer surface of the second end, such that when the two ends are brought together the two sections of fasteners are joined, thus securing the belt in place.
 3. A method of using a trash bag belt in conjunction with a trash receptacle and a trash bag, wherein the belt has two opposite ends, an inner surface, and two sections of hook and loop fasteners located at the ends, the trash receptacle has an inside surface, an outer surface, a top rim, and an outer perimeter, and the trash bag has a top edge, comprising the following steps: placing a trash bag inside a trash receptacle so that the bag rests upon the inner surface of the receptacle and the top edge of the bag extends above the top rim of the receptacle; folding the top edge of the bag over the top rim of the receptacle so that the top edge rests upon the outer surface of said receptacle; placing the trash bag belt over the top edge of the trash bag with the inner surface of the belt resting upon the bag; pulling the belt firmly around the bag to secure a tight fit of the top edge of the bag against the outer surface of the trash receptacle; attaching the sections of hook and loop fasteners together, thus securing the belt in place.
 4. The method of using a trash bag belt in conjunction with a trash receptacle and a trash bag as recited in claim 3, wherein the belt has an inside and an outside, one hook and loop fastener is attached to the inside of the belt at the first end and the other hook and loop fastener is attached to the outside of the belt at the second end, and wherein the step of attaching the sections of hook and loop fasteners together further comprises: joining the inside of the first end with the outside of the second end. 